and try to avoid the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts. that's the same day that congress returns to town. now before the president left for hawaii on friday, he suggested a stopgap measure to freeze tax rates for people making less than $250,000 a year and extend unemployment benefits. >>> and in case you missed all the political drama, take a look at how the fiscal cliff debate has been playing out in washington. >> the fiscal cliff, yes, it is still looming if you're out there wondering. >> i think we could be taken to the brink again. >> the market is responding to the pending fiscal cliff. >> business has stopped investing. business has stopped spending. business has stopped hiring. >> nobody knows what's going to happen. there's outlandish guesses on both sides. >> it wouldn't surprise me if we go past january 1. >> you can't tax your way out of this. you can't cut spending your way out of this. you can't grow your way out of this. >> another two million people will lose their job. unemployment will go to over 9%. why would we do tha